TOPIC · Adverbs & particles

Distinguishing hin and her in German

A2B1

After this lesson, you will be able to correctly distinguish and use the adverbs "hin" and "her".

Introduction

In this lesson, we will explore the adverbs "hin" and "her". These two words denote movements and can often be confused. We will learn how to distinguish between them correctly.

Differences Between hin and her

"Hin" and "her" indicate different directions. Here are the main distinctions:

hinher
- Indicates movement away from the speaker- Indicates movement towards the speaker
- Corresponds to the question "Wohin?"- Corresponds to the question "Woher?"
Example: "Wohin gehst du?"Example: "Woher kommst du?"
Translation: "Where are you going to?"Translation: "Where are you coming from?"

Usage of hin and her

With Verbs

"Hin" and "her" are often used with verbs of motion. Here are some examples:

  • Hin:

    • Ich gehe nach draußen hin.
      (I am going outside.)
    • Wir fahren ins Kino hin.
      (We are driving to the cinema.)

  • Her:

    • Komm bitte hierher!
      (Please come over here!)
    • Sie läuft zu mir her.
      (She is coming over to me.)

With Prepositions

To specify directions more accurately, "hin" and "her" are often combined with prepositions:

  • hinaus = hin + aus
    • Ich gehe hinaus.
      (I am going out.)
  • herein = her + ein
    • Komm herein!
      (Come in!)

Conclusion

In summary, "hin" indicates movement away from the speaker while "her" indicates movement towards the speaker. Both adverbs are usually associated with verbs and prepositions.

Exercises

  1. Write three sentences with "hin" and three with "her".
  2. Explain the direction difference between the two adverbs in your own words.